Earl Grey

What squirrel has orange eyes? If I saw a real squirrel with orange eyes, I don’t know what I would do.

When I first saw this porcelin object, I failed to notice the color of the eyes. I noticed only its cute little squirrel mouth and paws and the way it’s arms opened, like it’s welcoming a nut or a hug.

I purchased the squirrel for a friend in an attempt to be more thoughtful. Usually when I shop, I only think of myself. The particular person I bought the squirrel for has inspired me to think of others more often than I do. Whenever we go out to eat, she never fails to order food to take home for her husband. He does the same for her as well.  Also, when she shops, she almost always has a little something to bring home to everyone.

The squirrel was my first attempt of trying to be this way.

What I didn’t know until later is that the squirrel frightened my friend, the gift recipient. She left it outside of her home, and felt it had put a curse on her. Later, she would return it to me.

I decided to make the squirrel the totem of this blog. The story behind it reminds me that maybe my show of thoughtfulness should not be in the form of material things. I do not have the gift of choosing gifts for others (I never have, and I’m not certain I ever will), so am forced to find other ways to show I care.

I looked up what the squirrel symbolizes in shamanistic cultures and it paralleled exactly what I’m attempting to do in my own life. I’ve provided a link to the site where I found this information from (it’s at the bottom of the page). I’ve also cut the definition from the website I took it from and pasted it below, so you are free to read it here as well as there, if you’re interested.

My fiance, Bill, and I found a baby squirrel on a walk a while back. He was making cute squeaking noises and was curled up in the grass underneath a tall tree. We gently swaddled him into Bill’s sweater, took him home and named him Earl Grey.

That baby squirrel loved Bill and clung to his thumb as he cradled him. We handed Earl over to Humane Society, where he passed away. They believe he had internal trauma from the long fall from his nest. I like to believe that his spirit still lives and is helping us along our path to change directions quickly and fearlessly when necessary, move to higher ground if situations seem sketchy, gather only what we need to survive, and always find time (even while at work) for naps and play.

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Squirrel, Power Animal, Symbol of Gathering, Playfulness

By Ina Woolcott

Squirrel’s gifts include ability to solve puzzles, resourcefulness, quick change of direction, storing for the future/planning ahead, balance in giving and receiving, power of rest during times of non-movement, warning, discovery, change avoiding danger by climbing to a higher place, action.

The idea that there are obstacles which cant be overcome is not part of Squirrel’s outlook on life, nor is giving up. Squirrel is an almighty power animal to have any time when you feel you have reached a dead end in your life, or in a situation and ready to give up. We are shown that perseverance and the readiness to try different methods are the keys to success.

This animal also shows us how important it is to be prepared. Few, if any, animals are busier than a squirrel during the autumn. They gather enough nuts and seeds to get through the winter and buries them. For us this is not only important on the physical level – it can also mean being as flexible as Squirrel when it comes to allowing and starting change.

When squirrels prepare for the winter, they gather only what they require. This teaches us the importance of letting go/getting rid of unnecessary physical objects, and also negative beliefs, emotions and memories which limit our faith in love and abundance. We need to lighten our load, physically, mentally and emotionally.

As busy as these animals are, they always have time to play. Often in between gathering, they start to leap at each other and roll about in the leaves. They also seem to enjoy simply resting on a tree branch, enjoying the peace and quiet. This teaches us that there IS time for everything in life, that the balance between work, play, rest and contemplation is essential to our overall feeling of well being and harmony. We are also taught the balance within the circle of gathering and giving out. Our energy must not be wasted, but conserved for times of need. We are reminded that on our journeys to fulfil our goals, it is vital to make time for play and socializing.

Ask yourself are you too active, not active enough, too afraid, or hung up on accumulating and collecting. Squirrel people can sometimes be a little erratic, trying to do many things at once. Take the time to stop, listen and to heed your inner self.

It is probably not by chance (but a synchronicity) that squirrels are found wherever humans live. Perhaps they are here to herald a message for us all, not to give up, not to get stressed and as mentioned before there IS time for everything in life. Don’t forget to play, no matter what age you are!

Although squirrels are always prepared for what may come they have a tendency to forget where they store things. This forgetfulness is a reminder to those with this power animal to slow down, pay attention and to stop running several ways at once. I.e. don’t have too much on your plate at any one time.

Squirrels are sociable and communicative and can be pretty vocal in both work and play. Their non-stop chitter-chatter can disturb the silence, creating a sense of distraction and chaos. If the continual chatter of the squirrel disturbs you, this is telling you to speak clearly and effectively or to go within and be still, depending on the circumstances surrounding your situation.

Squirrels are very trusting and are one of the few (wild) animals that will eat out of a person’s hand. This symbolists a need to let down your defenses, and to learn to trust more. Trust issues can be present in all aspects of a person’s life from personal intimacy to trusting the universe. Because the squirrel is always prepared, if this is your power animal you must realize and remember that you will be taken care of. Building a strong sense of trust where it is missing would compliment the power of this medicine.

The information written by Ina Woolcot was taken from this webiste: 

http://www.shamanicjourney.com/article/6067/squirrel_power_animal_symbol_of_gathering_playfulness